Moving from Utah to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Salt Lake City and Des Moines it is about 1,107 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,101 to 1,413 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~1,107 miSalt Lake City → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,982+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 318 people moved from Utah to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±342), and about 528 went the other way. Between Salt Lake City and Des Moines it is about 1,107 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,982 – $6,642 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 45 movers based in Utah hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Utah to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 318 people a year (±342), against about 528 (±244) from Iowa to Utah, so Iowa loses about 210 people a year on this exchange. Utah is the 28th-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | Linn County | 199 ±246* |
| Davis County | Johnson County | 99 ±99* |
| Cache County | Johnson County | 62 ±102* |
| Uintah County | Story County | 18 ±20* |
| Utah County | Pottawattamie County | 16 ±19* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Salt Lake City to Des Moines, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Utah and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Utah to Iowa
At about 1,107 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,982 – $6,642 for a two-bedroom home and $5,729 – $7,638 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,587 – $4,782; a freight trailer is $2,391 – $3,188.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,736 – $4,982 | $2,690 – $3,587 | $1,793 – $2,391 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,483 – $5,978 | $3,228 – $4,304 | $2,152 – $2,869 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,982 – $6,642 | $3,587 – $4,782 | $2,391 – $3,188 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,729 – $7,638 | $4,125 – $5,500 | $2,750 – $3,666 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,476 – $8,635 | $4,663 – $6,217 | $3,108 – $4,145 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,472 – $9,963 | $5,380 – $7,173 | $3,587 – $4,782 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,107 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from Utah to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo to Des Moines | ~1,101 mi | 3–7 days | $4,955 – $6,606 | $5,698 – $7,597 |
| Ogden to Des Moines | ~1,107 mi | 3–7 days | $4,982 – $6,642 | $5,729 – $7,638 |
| Salt Lake City to Des Moines | ~1,107 mi | 3–7 days | $4,982 – $6,642 | $5,729 – $7,638 |
| Provo to Cedar Rapids | ~1,219 mi | 7–14 days | $5,486 – $7,314 | $6,308 – $8,411 |
| Ogden to Cedar Rapids | ~1,222 mi | 7–14 days | $5,499 – $7,332 | $6,324 – $8,432 |
| Salt Lake City to Cedar Rapids | ~1,223 mi | 7–14 days | $5,504 – $7,338 | $6,329 – $8,439 |
| Saint George to Des Moines | ~1,292 mi | 7–14 days | $5,814 – $7,752 | $6,686 – $8,915 |
| Saint George to Cedar Rapids | ~1,413 mi | 7–14 days | $6,359 – $8,478 | $7,312 – $9,750 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Utah
18 of the 45 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 97 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 10 of 57 vehicle inspections (17.5%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 12 of 94 driver inspections (12.8%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&S Moving LLCHooper, UT · USDOT 3540875 | 16 | 2 of 11 | 2 of 16 |
| A1 Custom Movers LLCOrem, UT · USDOT 1271923 | 13 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 13 |
| Affordable Moving LLCSouth Jordan, UT · USDOT 3532380 | 11 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 11 |
| Designer Moving and StorageSlc, UT · USDOT 284519 | 10 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 10 |
| Best of Utah Moving Company LLCSandy, UT · USDOT 2920944 | 10 | 1 of 7 | 1 of 10 |
| Loyal Moving and Storage LLCSalt Lake City, UT · USDOT 4256547 | 6 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 6 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
119 listed household-goods carriers are based in Utah, 45 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Utah directory ranks them. At the Iowa end, 119 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Iowa, moving costs in Iowa, or the reverse trip, Iowa to Utah. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Utah
Utah to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Utah to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Salt Lake City and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,107 miles. From our model that is $4,982 – $6,642 for a two-bedroom home and $5,729 – $7,638 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,587 – $4,782 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,391 – $3,188. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Utah and Iowa, distances run from 1,101 to 1,413 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Utah to Iowa take?
Salt Lake City to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Utah to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Utah into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 119 listed movers based in Utah, 45 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Utah.
What is the cheapest way to move from Utah to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,391 – $3,188 for a two-bedroom home over 1,107 miles against $4,982 – $6,642 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,587 – $4,782, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Utah to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 318 people (±342) moved from Utah to Iowa that year, against about 528 (±244) from Iowa to Utah. That makes Utah the 28th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.